Discovering the Pumpkins

Learn and discover the anatomy of a pumpkin.

Purpose: Students will observe and discover the pumpkin.

Supplies: pumpkin, knife, spoon, zip-lock bags

Procedure:

1. Have the students observe the shape, size, color and texture of the pumpkin.

Discuss what they observe (what color? What shape? Does it have ridges? Is the skin smooth or soft? How many ridges? ….) Do they all agree?

2. Ask the students to guess how much the pumpkin weighs. They can hold it to get a better idea on the weight. The weight is on the bottom under the tape. How close or far away were they?

3. Ask the students to guess the circumference of the pumpkin. Show them the tape measure before they make their final guess. Take a tape measure and measure around the thickest area of the pumpkin.

4.Now cut the top off the pumpkin by cutting around the stem with enough space so that you can put your hand in the pumpkin.

5. Pull out the seeds and have the students touch the seeds. Have the guess how many seeds are in a pumpkin.

6. Have the students look at the seeds and count the seeds. Some students may not want to touch the inside of the pumpkin. Give them all a chance to touch .

7. If the students want to take pumpkin flesh to take home to make pumpkin pancakes, then cut the pumpkin in equal sections for each student to take home.

8. Hand out zip lock bags with the pumpkin chunks to the students that want them.

9. Provide students with recipes for pumpkin pancakes.

10.If any extra time then go over the background information below.

Individual serving, pumpkin pancakes:1 Tbsp rounded mashed pumpkin, 1 tsp. brown sugar, 3 Tbsp. Water, 1/4 c. buttermilk pancake mix. Mix mashed pumpkin with brown sugar, water and pancake mix. Stir until a thin batter is made. Lumps are okay, don’t over mix. Cook on a greased or nonstick pan on medium heat (375-400). Pancakes are ready to flip when bubbles appear on the surface and the edges appear slightly dry and cooked. These pancakes may be more fragile and take longer to cook than usual because of the added pumpkin. You may sprinkle the pancakes with cinnamon sugar. Makes 2, moist, 4 inch pancakes.

Click Here if you want the full demonstration on how to make pumpkin pancakes